Will I Experience Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Surgery?

March 16, 2009 -- Question: Will I experience urinary incontinence after prostate surgery?

Answer: Approximately two to three percent of men following prostate cancer surgery have more severe urinary incontinence, as defined by requiring multiple pads during the day, and by altering their quality of life. There's additionally approximately 20 percent of men who will have less significant urinary incontinence, as defined by very rare incontinence requiring one pad or less per day, and certainly not altering quality of life or the activities these men enjoy.

So basically two to three percent of men will have more severe incontinence with a larger number, probably about 20 percent -- but this varies upon the study that you're looking at -- having less severe urinary incontinence that does not alter their lifestyle or quality of life.